Collectables -> Religions, Spirituality -> Christianity
Antique crucifixes are an interesting collector hobby, with collections that can range from very rough, early wooden carvings that barely resemble a modern crucifix, to brass or ivory depictions done more recently. While some people collect rather ornate crosses in all materials, a crucifix bears the likeness of Jesus Christ hanging upon the cross. Some churches display only this figure as the cross the figure was once fastened to has been lost through the years.
Whether an empty cross or a crucifix, few symbols stir such emotion in people today. Even those who don’t hold Christianity as a belief immediately recognized the symbol of the cross, whether it’s a cross or a crucifix that bears Jesus’ likeness. Antique crucifixes are often collected by people for their variety of designs and materials, and because it surrounds them items that help represent their faith. Some collect these along with other religious symbols like the menorah, old copies of the Bible, the Talmud or the Qu’ran, while some collect only Christian symbols of religion and faith.
When you’re looking for antique crucifixes, whether while strolling through shops or on eBay, an excellent place to find antiques, you’re faced with the problem of accurately dating a piece. You can be told it’s an antique and it may even look very old, but how do you determine the true age and worth of a piece? It can be difficult, but there are some notable distinctions among the earliest pieces, if you’re lucky enough to find any of this age.
The first crucifixes were created in the 7th century, and are easily distinguishable from older pieces. On these early crucifixes, Jesus word a shroud tunic, or a colbium, and his arms don’t seem to bend under his weight as he hangs from them. The arm are typically straight and show no signs of fatigue. This held until about the 10th century, when Jesus was no longer depicted as wearing a tunic but only a loincloth instead, and the figure of Christ on the cross was made to look more sympathetic and less triumphant, to evoke more pathos.
Antique crucifixes created during the 12th century show his arms stretched and bending under his weight, and the wound that was inflicted into Christ’s side by a soldier is clearly visible. A few crucifixes were created that bore the earlier depiction of a more strong and triumphant Jesus on one side, with the wounded and tired figure on the other.
Antique crucifixes created later emphasize Jesus’ pain and suffering, with detailed wounds and bruising. This trend continued and is still common in Latin folk art today. While Christian writers of the time wrote of a small ledge beneath the crucified person’s feet to keep the hands from pulling free of the nails, few crucifixes show little more than a sloped area beneath the feet, with early crucifixes rarely showing even a slope. Shopping for antique crucifixes will require some research on your part so that you find an authentic crucifix from the time period you’re looking for, and not a reproduction.
Photo Credits: Vintage Collective
Originally posted 2008-10-27 05:00:18. Republished by Blog Post Promoter
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